thornton



No. 625,859. Patented May 30, I899. J. E. THORNTON & J. P. LEA.

FRICTION GEAR.

(Application filed Dec. 29, 1897.) I

2 Sheets-Sheet l.

mu Modl.)

99. 625,859. Patented May 30, 1899. .1. E. momn'ow & .1; P. LEA.

FRICTION GEAR.

(Application filed Dec. 29, 1897) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

mo Modl.)

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WITNESSES.

,To all, whom it'ntay concern.-

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' ,raiono NF E LEA, or ALT/RINGHAM, EneLANn.

mantra-es orminig part'ot' Letters Patent No. 625,859, dated May 30, 1899. Appll oation filed Decenilggrdt, 1897. Serial to. 664,460. on model'.)

Be it known that we, JOHNEDWARD THORN- TON and J AMES POLLARD LEA, subjects of the Queen. of Great Britain, and residents of Adtringham, in the county of Chester, England,

have invented certain new and useful Im provements in Friction-Gears for Transmit- V ting Power,'of which the-following is a specification.

.set up are self-contained within the gearing and are not transmitted-throughthe su p orting-bearings, whereby undue friction upon and wear of the rotating parts are avoided.

It consists, essentially,' of apparatus constructed with two-rotating pulleys or disks rotating with a primary or driving shaft gearing with two friction-disks rigidlyjsecured to and rotating wit-h a secondary shaftand with a third 'disk rotating loosely on the same shaft.

' It will be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, as examples of which three forms or modifications of the invention are illustrated.

Figure 1 is a plan, partly in section, showing the invention in its simplest form; Fig. 2, an end elevation of same,partlyin section Fig. 3, a plan, partly in section, showingthe motion transmitted to two driven shafts by means of bevel-gearing; Fig. 4, an end elevation, partly in section, of Fig.3; Fig. 5, a plan, partly in section, showing the motion transmitted to two driven shafts by frictional gearing; Fig. (5, an and elevation, partly in section, of Fig. 5; Fig. 7,'a sideelevation of same.

The primary or driving shaft A is mounted in suitable bearings carried by a frame 0 or.

other convenient support and is geared to a corresponding shaft B by gear wheels c,.which is caused to rotate in the opposite direction.

On the end of eaeh1of the shafts A and B are secured by keys'or otherwise a friction disk or pulley D, the two friction-disks D also rotat-ing in opposite directions. The two friction-pulleys engage'with the faces of three friction disks E E and F. The friction-disks E E andF are fitted on a secondary shaft G, placed at right angles to the primary shaft A. The two outside di ks E E are rigidly secured .bypins e (or oth suitable means) to rot-ate with it and without any movement thereon,

and the central'or intermediate disk F is free to rotate thereon and is preferably provided cral movement. A." j

.with a sleeve f o'r with collars to prevent lat- The rotary movement of the two pulleys-or.

disks D as the shaft A rotates is transmitted to the disks E E and F, the two disks E E,

and with them the shaft G, rotating in one direction and the central disk F in the reverse direction. The motion imparted to the disks E E and F may be transmitted as required eit-her'from the disks E and E or shaft G or desirable or convenient. The speed of the disks E E and F and shaft G is increased or diminished,as required, by altering the 'position of the disks D relative to the disks E E and F by moving either to and from the other.

The edges of the disks E E and F are beveled to permit of the disksD being easily withdrawn and rentered between them. The faces'o'f the disks E E and F maybe provided with radiating corrugations d or projecting points or the like to increase the friction or grip of the disks D. The peripheries of the disks D are provided'with pneumatic tires or bands or with bands of leather or other suitable friction material. 4

In the arrangement shownin Figs. 1 and 2 from the intermediate disk F, as found most I, Y

the shafts A and B and the disks D are moved toand fro as desired bymeans of the frame 0, in which they are supported. The frame is moved in either direction by the screw K.

Motion is taken either'i'rom the secondary shaftG by a pulley or wheel g, placed upon it, or from the periphery of the central disk F by a wheel f, engaging with it.

In the arrangement shown in Figs. 3and 4. the movement of the disks D is similar to that 7 the frame 0, which carries the shafts A and J3 and the disks D, is stationary and the shaft G and disks E E and F are moved to and fro to vary the speed; The motion is taken by two shaft-s L L and frictionfdisks'M M, which are rotated by contact with, the disks E E and F. In this arrangement the alteration of the speed is twofold. As the disks D approach the periphery of the disks E E and F the latter are driven more slowly,

- and at the same time the disks M M approach quired.

the center and are also driven more slowly, and vice versa.

The friction-gear herein described is specially designed for motor cars and vehicles, but is applicable also for other purposes or mechanism where variations of speed are re- What we claim as our invention, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is-

1. In friction-gear for transmitting power the combination of the primary driving-shaft A the corresponding auxiliary shaft B geared thereto the supporting-framing capable of.

sliding to and fro the disks D affixed to and rotating with the shafts A and B the secondary driven shaft G the disks E and E rigidly afiixed thereto and the intermediate disk free to rotate thereon with the faces of which the peripheries of the disks D engage to transmit motion thereto and means for conveying motion from such secondary shaft and disks substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In friction-gear for transmitting power the combination with the driving-shaftsAand B and disks 1) D rotating therewith of the secondary shaft G the disks E and E rigidly-atfixed thereto the disk F free to rotate thereon the sliding supporting-frame and the driven shaftsLand Lwith the disks M M secured thereto and rotated by the disks E E and F substantially as described.

In testimony whereof We have signed our names to this specification in the presence pf two subscribing witnesses.

' J. E. THORNTON.

- J. P. LEA.

Witnesses:

J. OWDEN OBRIEN, R. OVENDALE. 

